Kelly Services Inc. (NASD: KELYA) and Japan-based staffing giant Temp Holdings Co. Ltd. expanded their existing joint venture to include all of Asia Pacific. The firms expects the new joint venture will be the largest workforce solutions company in the Asia Pacific region.

Temp Holdings is the second-largest staffing firm in Japan, while Kelly ranks as the fifth largest staffing firm in the US.

The original Asia Pacific joint venture, named TS Kelly Workforce Solutions and based in Hong Kong, formed in 2012. It will now rebrand as TS Kelly Asia Pacific and make its headquarters in Singapore.

With nearly 1,600 employees, TS Kelly Workforce Solutions will operate in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Indonesia and South Korea.

“The creation of TS Kelly Asia Pacific confirms Kelly's commitment to strengthening our workforce solutions presence in the rapidly growing Asia Pacific market while solidifying our KellyOCG focus as that of a leading talent provider to multinational companies with operations in the region,” said Kelly President and CEO Carl Camden. “We will continue to provide our global clients with seamless, cross border HR solutions in Asia Pacific with the goal of becoming the most trusted talent management brand in the region.”

Temp Holdings will continue to own 51% of the expanded joint venture, with Kelly Services owning the remaining 49%. Takayuki Yamazaki, current CEO of TS Kelly Workforce Solutions and executive officer of Temp Holdings, will serve as CEO of TS Kelly Asia Pacific.

The joint venture expansion broadens its scope from the original four regions of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea; the firms expect the expansion to be finalized by the end of June. It aims to combine the resources and expertise of Kelly's staffing operations across Asia Pacific with Temp Holding's businesses including Capita, with offices in Singapore and Malaysia; First Alliances, with offices in Vietnam; and Intelligence, with a presence in Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia.

“As globalization in talent management becomes increasingly critical, I am convinced that expanding our current joint venture is the best way to further strengthen our presence in the region,” said Masamichi Mizuta, president and representative director, Temp Holdings. “Temp Holdings and Kelly Services have a history of respecting each other's corporate values since the formation of a strategic alliance in 2010. Our goal is to further strengthen the relationship of the two parties and to expand our presence in the Asia Pacific region.”